Disclaimer: The song in this chapter belongs to Celine Dion. I take no credit but appreciate her work.

27: Forever Yours and Yours Alone

I was a bundle of nerves. My heart was beating a thousand miles a minute. Chloe had swept me away from the hospital the moment I was checked out and we were driving to some unknown location. Why was I so nervous then? Because I was petrified that she was driving me straight to my wedding. So what was my surprise when we pulled into a rather extravagant looking complex rather than a church or cathedral!

"Sundust Spa and Resort?" I questioned, raising a critical eyebrow at Chloe.

Chloe grinned. "This is our first stop, Lois. Come on! The others are waiting inside for us."

"The others?"

Grabbing my hand, Chloe practically dragged me through the doors. Bemused, I vaguely had time to take in the vine painted walls when a fury of blonde hair flashed before my eyes. "I'm so glad you're out of the hospital!" Kara greeted, squeezing me affectionately.

"Kara, I thought you were in Milan," I gasped, pulling away.

"I was but only for a moment. I was picking up Lana."

I looked away from Kara to see a woman with fair skin and bright red hair smiling warmly at me. She had perfect curves and a kiss of freckles along her cheekbones. So this was Clark's old crush. He'd told me a lot about her the past few days. Meeting Lana in person hurt a little as old feelings surfaced about how I was stupid to think I was Clark's first and only love. The woman before me had every right to demand his attention. She was beautiful and the kindness in her eyes was a preview of the gentle spirit she possessed. She was nothing like me. How on earth had Clark fallen in love with me when he had her first? Why hadn't they worked out?

"Lois, it's so nice to finally meet you," Lana said, surprising me with a hug. The red head pulled away to look at me with her bright brown eyes and smiled further. "I'm a huge fan of your work!"

"Thanks," I mumbled, trying to hide the state of my thoughts from her.

"I want you to know that I'm glad you're the missing piece in Clark's life."

I raised my eyebrows. "What makes you so sure it isn't somebody else?" I tried to keep the bitterness from my tone but I wasn't too successful. Lana noticed.

Biting her lower lip, she sighed. "Lois, I may have gone out with Clark but it fell apart shortly after I found out his secret. I couldn't handle being responsible with such a thing. I really admire you, you know. You really are the only woman capable of being combatable with him."

"She's right, Lois," Chloe commented.

"If all of you are done discussing my son, we need to check in before we lose our appointment."

We all twisted around at the interruption. "Martha!" I greeted enthusiastically, hugging her. I hadn't seen her since the day Clark had asked Jimmy to be his best man and that had been four days ago. Martha chuckled while someone cleared their throat behind her. I glanced up to see Lucy and Maggie Sawyer. Giving them both a hug, I asked, "Mags? What are you doing here?"

The inspector rolled her eyes. "I'm here to celebrate your wedding, Lane. It's about time you and Kent tied the knot! I won the bet against Henderson – thanks by the way."

"What bet?"

"When we were first introduced to the infamous Lois and Clark pair I bet you'd end up getting married while Henderson thought Clark was too chicken to ever propose. That and he didn't know a man alive who'd be insane enough to settle down with you."

I snorted. "Great, I'm glad we proved him wrong. What did you win?"

"Vacation time," Maggie replied. "After this wedding nonsense is over I'm headed for the Bahamas for two weeks."

Letting out a low whistle, I shook my head. "I bet Henderson wasn't too happy about losing."

"Not at all," Maggie laughed.

A small gust of wind descended on our group and we all looked around to find Diana standing before us in jeans and a bright red blouse. "Hi," she greeted. "I'm not late, I hope."

"Wow, who's that?" Maggie muttered to me.

"Diana Prince," Diana said, walking up to shake Maggie's hand. "I met Lois a few months ago."

"Really? Where?" Maggie asked skeptically as she eyed the six foot Amazon from head to toe.

"In Smallville," Diana replied. "I was working with the military when she and Clark showed up."

"I see," Maggie said.

"Come on ladies!" Chloe called, interrupting before Maggie to dig a little deeper into who Diana really was.

I gave Diana a quick hug before following the others inside. Our little procession moved to the front desk where Lana checked us in. "Now, this is a time to relax and enjoy ourselves," she said after signing a form. "No stressing! Especially from you, Lois."

I groaned. Despite the fact that she was who she was, I couldn't help but like Lana. Teasingly, I rolled my eyes and heaved a dramatic sigh. "If I have to."

Chloe grinned. "Believe me, Lois, this will all be worth it later."

I raised an eyebrow. "Is this like my bachelorette party or something?"

"You could call it that," Martha answered. "Clark asked Chloe to make the day before the wedding as relaxing for you as possible."

"The wedding isn't today then?" I asked, feeling my heartbeat slow a little.

"Nope," Chloe said. "And don't worry, Lois, you'll be really busy all day so you won't have time to be nervous. We're going to have tons of fun!"

Though I wouldn't openly admit it, the spa was exactly what I needed. Pampered like crazy by several different people who wanted nothing more than to serve my every whim; it was paradise compared to the hospital! I sighed in contentment as we exited the building four hours later.

"I feel like a new woman!" Kara cried happily, throwing up her arms.

"Same here," Lana sighed. "That was wonderful!"

"What's next, Chloe?" I asked happily.

The blond grinned as a limo pulled up. My eyebrows rose. An older gentleman stepped out and sent us a warm smile. "Good afternoon ladies," he greeted in a rich English accent.

Diana waltzed right up to the old man and kissed him on the cheek. "Hello, Alfred," she said cheerfully.

"Good to see you too Miss Diana," Alfred chuckled.

"Do you know each other?" Maggie asked curiously as we all got in the limo.

"Alfred is a dear friend of mine," Diana explained as he shut the door and made for the driver's seat. "He's my boyfriend's butler."

"Who's your boyfriend?" Lana asked while Chloe passed around bottles of sparkling cider.

Accepting her offered glass, Diana took a small sip before shyly revealing, "Bruce Wayne."

Maggie spit up her cider, coughing hard. Kara thumped her hand a couple of times on her back. "Are you serious?" Maggie gasped, still coughing.

Even Lana looked impressed. "Bruce Wayne, huh? Are you serious?"

"I don't joke about who I date," Diana replied strongly.

"You're dating the Prince of Gotham?!" Maggie yelped.

Diana shrugged. "Yes, what's the big deal?"

Maggie and Lana shared a look.

"Diana," I said delicately, "did Bruce ever tell you about his…reputation?"

Diana's crystal blue eyes sparkled with humor. "I assume you are referring to him being a playboy? I'm well aware of that."

"Then you realize that he's not the most respectable guy to call your boyfriend," Maggie suggested. "For all you know, he could be cuddling with three other women right now."

Diana's face flushed in anger and part of me almost feared for Maggie. At least Kara was insurance we could count on should Diana decide to go Amazon on her. But the anger vanished almost as quickly as it had appeared. Diana smiled. "Maggie, I'd like you to know that when Bruce made the decision to ask me out, he left that lifestyle behind. I have faith in my boyfriend and it would be respectable to me and to Alfred if you withheld any other negative comment about him."

Despite the slightly acidic request, Maggie opened her mouth to retort. Chloe beat her to it by shouting out, "We're here! Everybody out!"

I sighed. So much for having my bridesmaids get along. I knew Maggie had good intentions and was only trying to look out for Diana but she didn't know the real Bruce Wayne like we did. Lana, also ignorant, was on Maggie's side in wanting to warn her but one look from Diana made it clear that the subject was closed. Lana bit her lip but decided to forebear any further attempt to open it.

Alfred shut the door after we were all out of the limo. "I'll be back at six," he said.

"Thank you, Alfred," Chloe said warmly. "We'll have her ready by then."

I arched an eyebrow but kept my lips shut. The limo drove off and we finally turned around to see where we were. I felt like someone had dropped a stone in my stomach. We were in front of the largest bridal store in Metropolis. I shook my head. "No way! Nuh-uh! I am not going in there!"

I turned around as if to march out into the street when Chloe caught my arm. "Lois, come on, everyone needs a wedding dress when they get married! Even you!"

"No way!" I repeated, clawing at her hands.

"Here we go," Maggie muttered.

Chloe's grip remained firm as she asked incredulously, "Why on earth do you not want a wedding dress?"

I bit my lip. It was embarrassing enough to admit this but it was something that had been on my mind the second Clark had asked me to marry him. Looking at my toes, I muttered, "I'd rather not say."

A gentle, motherly hand rested on my shoulder. Martha. "Chloe let me handle this."

A pause. "Okay…we'll meet you inside."

I hid my dismay. Martha took my arm and gently led me down the sidewalk, heading west. We walked several stores down before she stopped by an old phone booth and hugged me tight. Not knowing what to say, I hugged her back. It was strange how comfortable I felt in her embrace; it was like being back in the arms of my own mother.

"Lois, tell me what's on your mind," she invited, though I had a sneaky suspicion she already knew.

Unable to meet her gaze, I pulled away and muttered, "Wedding dresses are white."

"Yes, they are."

I scowled. She was going to make me spell it out word for word. Playing with my hands, I examined my fingernails. "White is supposed to be pure," I hedged.

"Yes."

Practically growling over how calm she was, I snapped, "I'm not pure alright! I can't wear a wedding dress! It would mock everything a wedding dress is supposed to stand for! Clark and I have a six year old for heaven's sake, Martha! I'm not your typical starry eyed bride!"

Martha smiled. "Feel better?"

"No," I snapped, folding my arms.

Taking my shoulder, Martha looked deep into my eyes. "Lois, honey, not all wedding dresses are white. They also come in ivory. True, you and Clark are not your typical first timers but that doesn't mean you aren't pure. You have one of the purest hearts I've ever seen and I can say that because you're marrying my son."

I smiled despite myself. She was right. "Would Clark be okay with ivory?" I muttered.

Martha chuckled. "Lois, I think Clark doesn't really care. He's marrying you not the dress."

"True…" I sighed. "I personally won't feel comfortable wearing white."

"Then let's go hunt for ivory."

"Martha, you're a saint, you know that right?"

She laughed. "Come on."

I allowed her to guide me back to the bridal store. My heart rivaled a hummingbird's by the time I stepped through the doors. My little party of bridesmaids was still there. My Maid of Honor was busy talking to a sales associate near a display of several different white dresses. The second Chloe laid eyes on me she stopped talking to the associate and headed over. Giving me a hug, she gently took my hand. "The ivory ones are in the back."

"How…?"

"Lois, we may not have known each other for years but I feel that I know you well enough to understand why you don't want to wear white."

I blushed crimson while the bridesmaids chuckled except for Kara. "Why wouldn't she want to wear white?" she asked.

Martha put an arm around Kara's shoulders. "I'll have to explain that one later, dear."

"I'm sorry about earlier," Chloe muttered as we headed for the back. "I assumed that you realized I wasn't going to make you try on white dresses."

I shook my head. "No, it's okay... Thank you."

We walked into another section of the store that was covered with countless options all sporting beautiful shades of ivory. Immediately drawn to a hue in the middle of the ivory spectrum, I started fingering though different options. I wanted the best for Clark and I felt that when I saw the dress, I'd know it. Sure enough, I'd gone down three racks with not so much as a glance when The Dress graced my fingers.

It was a ball gown style; the top had short lacy sleeves and the bodice consisted of several layers of ivory fabric tightly bunched together while the bottom flared out at the waist in the typical bell fashion. There was a slit on the right hip, displaying several folds of fabric underneath the top layer which was decorated with small sequined patterns that swirled around like vines. Small crystals sewn into the bodice and top layer of the skirt reminded me of the Fortress of Solitude. Though the dress was ivory, the crystals made it appear to have speckles of white. It was perfect.

"This one," I said with conviction, pulling it out.

A round of swift approval was expressed by all as I held it up.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Try it on!" Chloe demanded.

I looked at the tag and was pleased to find it was my size. If that wasn't a sign I didn't know what was. Directed to a large fitting room, Martha, Maggie, and Diana got comfortable on the chairs while Lana, Kara, and Chloe helped me get into the dress. The second it was wrapped around my tiny frame I knew it was the right one. I didn't even need to look in the mirror.

"Oh my," Martha gasped, her heart in her throat. "Lois, it's perfect!"

Lana, Chloe, and Kara stepped back by the others to get a better look. I spun around slowly with my arms stretched outward. "Well, what do you think?" I asked, smiling.

Kara sighed longingly, "It's beautiful."

"A gown worthy of you," Diana opined, nodding.

"I think you're going to knock Clark off his feet!" Maggie exclaimed. "The poor man is going to faint before you even get to the altar!"

There was a round of laughter. Lighthearted and positively thrilled, I spun around in the dress and stopped, staring at my reflection. There had been a handful of times in my life when I felt positively stunning but those memories were completely forgotten as I stared at the current image before me. My cheeks were flushed, my eyes were sparkling, and I felt like I was glowing. Yep, no question about it; this was The Dress!

My delight was rudely interrupted when I suddenly thought of how much this dress was going to cost. Frantic, I started hunting around for a price tag. Lana seemed to perceive what I was doing and cleared her throat. I looked up to see her dangling a large price tag on her fingers.

"How much is it?" I asked, fearful.

Lana grinned. "For you, it's going to be free."

"Huh?"

"This is my wedding present to you," she revealed. "Congratulations!"

My mouth dropped open and I shook my head frantically. "Lana, you hardly know me! I can't accept this!"

The red head rolled her brown eyes. "Lois, I may not know you very well but I've known Clark all my life. I've never seen him this happy in all those years. You have no idea what you've done for him and by golly, if there is anyone deserving of happiness it's that man! This dress is a small token of my thanks and whether you like it or not, I'm paying for it. In fact, I've already slipped the associate my card."

"You can't be serious," I muttered hollowly. Lana kept that genuine sweet smile on her face. I shook my head and allowed myself to grin. "The world needs to take some tips from Smallville, Kansas. How is it possible that all of you people are bred to be genuine in every sense of the word?"

Chloe, Lana, and Martha all laughed openly.

"If everyone was like that we wouldn't need heroes like the Justice League and the Justice Alliance," Maggie opined. "We wouldn't need cops either. The world would be at peace."

"Then what would the heroes do?" Kara wondered.

Maggie shrugged.

"They would have no use for their powers or talents," Diana mused. "What a different world that would be."

"Your card, ma'am."

All of us jumped. We hadn't even heard the associate return.

"Thank you," Lana said, slipping her credit card back into her pocket.

"Would you like us to hold your purchase until the wedding day?"

"That would be fine," Lana answered. "Someone will be by to pick it up tomorrow at seven in the morning. You'll be open then, I assume?"

"We don't usually open until nine but for you, Miss Lang, we'll make the exception," the associate said with a smile.

Lana returned it with one of her own, slipping a hundred dollar bill into the associate's hand. "Thank you."

I shook my head as the worker left. "Do you often bribe people with a Franklin?"

Lana shrugged. "In special cases, it's the necessary insurance one requires."

"Thank you," I muttered sincerely.

"You're welcome," the designer said warmly. "Now, let's get you out of that dress. We don't have a lot of time left and we still have to find you the perfect jewelry to go with it!"

My dismay was silenced again, this time by Diana. "And the jewelry is my present."

"What? Diana, no!"

She silenced my protests. "Lois, jewelry is a worthy gift for me to give. I have the funds so don't think you need to be conservative. Get what you want."

"Yeah, and if you settle for anything cheap, we'll prevent you from leaving the building until you pick what you really want," Maggie warned.

I looked at all the wonderful women around me and knew that no matter how tough I was, I couldn't resist them. "Fine," I mumbled.

Leaving the bridal store and The Dress behind, we crossed the street and headed into a jewelry store I'd once written an article for; they'd gotten hold of a fake shipment of gems by accident and it caused quite the scandal. Despite that, their reputation was still one of the most renowned in Metropolis. Another hour and a half later and we emerged with a simple silver and pink amethyst necklace and tear drop shaped earrings to match my wedding ring.

"Now we need to buy the bridesmaid dresses," Chloe muttered, checking off a mental list. "What are your colors, Lois?"

I frowned. "Honestly, I've never thought about it before."

"Well, how about red and blue?" Kara suggested. "You love those colors."

The double meaning behind those words almost blew my cover with Maggie. Everyone else tried to hide knowing smiles. Maggie looked amused. "Aren't those colors particular to a certain superhero who made it clear in a press conference that you were both mutual friends?"

It took everything I had to be natural. "Mags, Superman also wears yellow."

"Yeah but that new suit he wears hardly has any on it!" she challenged back playfully. "It's more blue and red if you ask me."

I rolled my eyes. "It just so happens that I loved blue and red before I was snatched out of the sky by the Man of Steel, Maggie."

The cop shrugged, still grinning. "It's your wedding, Lois. Pick whatever colors you like."

"Red and ivory," I snapped.

"What about blue?" Kara said.

I shook my head emphatically. Maggie was right. If I made my colors red and blue it could compromise everything! People would see it one of two ways: either an expression to Superman that I still had feelings for him (insulting Clark in the process) or spurning Superman by mocking him with the colors he picked for his uniform. No, we couldn't afford anyone exercising their imagination. Red and ivory were safe. "No blue," I said with finality.

"Awww," Kara pouted. "I like blue."

"Then you can have it at your own wedding, darling," Lana said.

Kara froze. "I'm not getting married!"

"Ever?" Lana asked, eyebrows raised.

Kara bit her lip. "We'll see."

"Alright, red and ivory it is!" Chloe said, once again being a master at changing the subject. I had a sneaky suspicion that she'd had years of practice with Clark; the way she was able to change the subject was almost too natural. "What do you think, Martha? Everyone in red with ivory waistbands?"

"Sounds lovely. Lois?"

I nodded. "I like it."

"Great, we'll take care of that along with all the decorations. Lois, you and Kara are going to go shopping for a nice outfit. Kara, you know what to do."

The blond nodded and looked at me sheepishly. "Come on, Lois," she said, taking my hand.

I was whisked away before I could even tell the others goodbye. "Kara, where are we going? Why do I have to go clothes shopping? What's wrong with what I have on right now?"

"I'm sorry, Lois, I really want to answer your questions but I made a promise to be as silent as the grave – although Chloe had to explain the meaning of that phrase to me before I could make such a promise."

Kara shepherded me down three blocks before stopping outside of Dillard's. "What are we looking for?" I wondered.

"A nice dress," she replied, pushing me through the doors.

"Another dress?" I groaned. "You know, Kara, all I want to do right now is go home, curl up, and watch a movie while eating ice cream."

"That stuff makes you fat," she disapproved.

"It's comfort food!" I defended. "Every sane person needs it. Have you ever even tried it?"

"…yes…"

"You like it."

"No!" the reply came too quickly.

I smirked. "Kara, just because you're a model doesn't mean you can't have sweets."

"But I can't let my figure change!" she complained.

Even though she could hear me just fine, I leaned in to whisper, "Kara, I've seen Clark eat some of the most ridiculously fattening foods for years and the man has never gained a pound. Kryptonians must be immune to weight gain."

Kara blinked. "So I can have ice cream? And donuts?"

"As many as you want!" I said cheerfully.

Kara grinned wickedly. "Sweet! Oh! How about this one?" She held up a pink dress with green roses gathered in a corner on the left side, a small trail of vines embroidered from the hips down to the cluster. I liked it but it hadn't caught my eye like the slightly glittery midnight blue number hanging on the wall. My eyes lingered on the dress and I felt the familiar siren's call any shopper experienced when they saw something they never thought they'd long for but simply had to have once aware of. Kara followed my gaze and grinned. "Good choice. Now we just have to find shoes to match."

For good measure, Kara made me try on the dress and model it off for her. It hugged my curves and flared down to my knees, exposing my calves. As we hunted around for shoes, I found myself frequently glancing at Kara. Even though she'd only been here for a month, I never would have guessed she was from a different planet. She acted completely natural. The only way one could know she wasn't from around here was when she asked rather obvious questions a girl her age should understand. Her innocence made her even more endearing to me and I found my love for her deepening every passing second.

"Lois, how about these?" she asked excitedly, pulling me out of my thoughts.

She held up a pair of ghastly looking orange pumps with bright pink bedazzlements. I looked horrified and Kara let out a snort of laughter, obviously jerking on my chain. I laughed too. "Oh, yes, I must have those!"

Kara continued to laugh as she put the hideous shoes down and moved on to other selections. We went through several pairs before settling on a pair of strapping white stilettos with little blue bows on the sides. At the checkout counter, I reached for my purse but Kara beat me to it, handing the clerk her credit card. "This is my present," she said, grinning.

I sighed. "I'm not used to getting spoiled like this."

"You're going to marry Clark," Kara pointed out. "Prepare for a world full of spoiling."

I pursed my lips as my cheeks flushed. "Clark's the only one I'm comfortable with spoiling me."

Kara giggled. "I'm sure he is."

"Where did this snarky attitude come from?" I asked in false shock.

"I learned from the best," Kara said happily as she handed the bag of purchases to me. Glancing at a watch, she pursed her lips. "Right, we need to get you into that outfit in ten minutes. Come on!"

She practically shoved me into the first available restroom. Slamming the stall door shut, she waited outside as I changed. "Kara, what on earth is going on?" I demanded.

"Sorry, secrets must be kept!" she practically sang.

Sighing and rolling my eyes, I changed as fast as I could. "I can't even remember the last time I changed into a new outfit before I even left the store," I grumbled.

Kara looked me up and down approvingly after I stepped out of the stall. "You look great! Here, let me fix your hair real quick. It's a good thing you did your make up before leaving the hospital this morning. You wouldn't have time to do it now."

I tried multiple times to coax her into telling me what exactly I was getting myself all spiffed up for but the girl had lips of steel. Ten minutes later, she led me out of the bathroom. "Now, don't worry about your clothes," she was saying as we headed for the exit, "I'll take care of them. And Conner and I are watching Jason tonight until you get home."

"Kara, for the love of –" but my words died in my throat. We'd stepped out into the cool late summer air and there – leaning against a limo like a modern day Adonis – was Clark. He wore a suit that actually fit him with a bright red tie. His new glasses were perched on his straight nose and his slightly lopsided grin climbed his cheeks as his unearthly blue eyes took in every inch of me.

Suddenly the rest of the world didn't exist. Gone were the concerned butterflies that had been flying around in my stomach all day. Gone was the reality that tomorrow I was marrying this man. I even forgot that Kara was still there. My eyes were solely on Clark and Clark alone. He walked toward me and I nearly died at the way he moved. He carried himself was a grace that no human on earth could ever possess, almost appearing to hover over the ground as he closed the distance between us; the only inclination I had that he wasn't hovering was the small click of his shoes hitting the sidewalk. No wonder he always wore suits that hid his body while at work; every woman in the office would have keeled over and died if they saw this walking into the bullpen every morning!

"Hi," he said, his voice rich with tenderness.

"Hi," I replied faintly, dazed.

"You look beautiful."

"You too."

He smiled that famous Clark Kent smile and my heart melted. "Did you have a good day?"

"Uh-huh," I sighed, my eyes still captured by his.

"Would you be opposed to spending the rest of the evening with me, Miss Lane?"

I blinked a few times and mentally slapped myself. Get a hold of yourself, Lane! Stop acting like a love sick puppy! "I'd love that, Kal-El," I whispered, turning up my own charm to combat with his.

His eyes danced at the name and he easily slipped his arm around my waist. "Shall we?" he invited, gesturing to the limo where Alfred stood waiting.

"Of course," I smiled, holding him lovingly.

"Hello again, Miss Lane," Alfred said kindly.

"Hi Alfred," I greeted. "Thanks for giving us a ride."

"It's no trouble at all. Master Kent saved my life a fair few occasions. The least I can do is give him and his lovely bride-to-be a ride."

"Thank you Alfred," Clark said sincerely as he helped me in.

"Have a good time!" Kara called.

Finally remembering that she was there, I waved out the window. "Thank you Kara! You're amazing!"

The blond just smiled as we pulled away. I leaned into Clark and sighed. "You're the perfect medicine for stress you know that?"

He kissed the top of my head and muttered, "Likewise."

"So, where are you whisking me off to?"

"It's a surprise."

I closed my eyes and cuddled into his side. "Fine, Smallville, I'll wait."

He chuckled softly before we slipped into a comfortable silence simply enjoying each other's company. The smooth limo ride nearly lulled me to sleep. I was grateful that Clark wasn't trying to engage me in light conversation; he knew the thing I needed the most right now was relaxation and silence. He played with a loose lock of my hair and laid the occasional kiss on my hand or cheek – the gestures were just enough for the moment and a small smile happily curved my lips. The car stopped about ten minutes later and I looked up to see where we were.

I raised an eyebrow but kept a small amused smile. "Jared's? Seriously?"

Clark smiled. "Too much?"

I shook my head. "No, it's just…the Pulitzer Award ceremony was here."

Clark put his arm around me. "And you turned it down," he said.

"Well, yes! It wasn't right!"

He kissed my cheek again. "And I see that decision as one of the many expressions of your love for me."

I didn't know what to say to that so I simply followed him inside. The interior of the restaurant was pristine, the carpets emerald green and the furniture lined with silver thread. The meal was one of the most enjoyable I'd had in weeks and Clark didn't have to take care of an emergency once because the League and the Alliance assured him they would make sure Metropolis didn't need him for the night. The conversations ranged from a variety of topics. When the last morsel of dessert was finally consumed, Clark stood up.

"Well, Miss Lane, I'm afraid that our evening is drawing to a close."

Standing up as well, I took his offered hand and followed him out of the restaurant. "That was really good," I commented.

"Yes, the reviews about them certainly don't do them justice."

"Maybe we should write an article to promote them," I teased.

"Actually, when I was making the reservations, they found out who I was and politely hinted they would love to see an article in the Daily Planet about what I thought of them. Imagine their shock when I brought Lois Lane with me!"

We both chuckled a little. I looked around but didn't see the limo or Alfred anywhere near the restaurant. I turned to look at Clark but he was gone. "Clark?" Oh no, don't tell me he had to leave in an emergency…the one night I not only wanted but needed him by my side!

I was beginning to get frantic as I walked away from the restaurant's entrance down the sidewalk. I'd only made it ten paces when I was snatched out of the air in a rush of wind. Yelping in surprise, I flung my arms around Superman's neck as he flew with breathtaking speed through the streets of Metropolis. It wasn't until we were well out of plain sight that he slowed down and leisurely weaved through the skyscrapers.

"What the heck, Clark!" I cried, slapping him on the chest.

"Sorry," he muttered, grinning.

"No you're not." His chuckle confirmed it and I hit him again but more out of affection than anger. "Where are we going, hero?"

"Oh, someplace special," he hedged.

I turned away from the S on his chest to see we were making our way up the side of the Daily Planet. I couldn't help the smile and the tears that were beginning to brim in my eyes. This was where it all began. Clark stopped when we were halfway up. "Right here," he muttered, "I held you just like this for the first time."

I looked up into his beautiful eyes just like I had that first night. "I remember," I whispered. "You've got me… who's got you?"

A warm smile spread across his face as we were both lost in memory for a moment. He searched my eyes before continuing to fly up to the roof. Instead of setting me down in the usual spot, he scaled the globe and stopped on the top, standing on the golden exterior as it slowly rotated around giving us a perfect view of Metropolis. I slipped from his arms and stood on his toes because I didn't trust my heels on the globe's slick surface. My arms were wrapped around his neck while his hands rested on my hips.

"You're the greatest gift I could ever imagine," he whispered, bringing one hand to caress my cheek.

I leaned into his touch and closed my eyes, sighing deeply. "And you are mine," I muttered back.

I rose on tiptoe as he leaned forward, our lips meeting halfway. Lost in love, memories of every moment with both Clark and Superman danced through my mind like a ballet. I couldn't believe how often he appeared in my memories in both guises; he really was always around! And I loved him even more than I had before.

He broke the kiss only to rest his forehead against mine and declare in perfect mildness and sincerity, "I love you Lois Lane."

"I love you too, Kal-El," I whispered, closing my eyes in pleasure as he began to leave a trail of kisses along my jaw. I shivered. "Clark…" I gasped.

"Hmmm?" he murmured, smiling before dwelling near the side of my neck just below the earlobe.

"You'd better not give me a hickey the night before our wedding," I warned causing him to laugh right against my skin. The sudden warm breath caused me to jump and I fidgeted away from it. "Don't do that!" I cried, rubbing my neck, my arm full of goose bumps.

"You're fault," he accused lightly before pulling me back so he could continue what he started.

"No it's not!" I defended, but even as I tried to be defiant, my head tilted even further, allowing him access to the desired spot. "It's yours, Smallville."

He laughed softly and again I fidgeted but his strong embrace kept me locked in place. Well, if he was going to kiss me like this there was no reason I couldn't have a little bit of fun too. He was still in his suit so I couldn't tease him by running my hands under his shirt. I settled for kissing every inch of him that was within my lips' reach. He froze a second at the feel of my lips against his skin but quickly set to work competing against me.

We were always competing; stories, banters, affection, anything and everything was a competition between us. And the strangest thing about all of it was that it only deepened our attraction and love for each other. I smiled through the kisses as I thought of all those times he'd beaten me to a story and landed the front page before I could so much as write a single word. The most adorable and slightly maddening thing about all of it was that with his powers he could easily beat me every time but he gave me a fair chance to try. I loved him for that; he made sure I felt special but didn't allow me to feel spoiled.

Through our competition, our lips finally managed to meet again and the longing to give myself to him completely was almost too much to bear. We were approaching the danger zone and we both knew it. A flame of passion had turned into a raging inferno and it was only Clark's moral obligation that prevented either of us from crossing the line. Pulling away from one of the most earth shattering kisses I've ever experienced, my head swam as I tried to find his eyes with my own. It didn't help that we were slowly revolving with the globe.

"Well, one thing's for sure," Clark gasped between deep breaths.

"Yeah?" I asked, breathing just as deeply. "What's that?"

"We got that kiss out of the way before the wedding. I don't think I could have settled for kissing you briefly in front of the altar and having to wait hours before giving you the kiss I just did."

I laughed openly. "I'd have to agree with you on that one…" but then an evil grin climbed my cheeks and I added, "but if you thought that was the best kiss you've ever had just wait until tomorrow night, hero. I'm going to knock you right out of your spandex."

Clark's face turned as red as his cape and completely satisfied, I kissed him gently while he was still recovering. "Love you, Smallville."

He blinked a few times and smiled back just as wickedly. Returning the kiss, he actually yanked a little on my lower lip with his teeth. It was my turn to be shocked. "And I'll have you know, Miss Lane, you're not the only one who's been holding back."

Blinking furiously, I shook my head. "Alright, that's it. If you keep this up I'm going to force you to take me to Vegas tonight!" I jammed my finger into the S on his chest. "I mean it, Clark. Behave! One of us has to and we both know I can't when it comes to you."

He laughed lightly before stealing another passionate kiss. "Yes, Miss Lane," he whispered against my lips. "Of course, Miss Lane." Another deep kiss. "Whatever you say, Miss Lane."

"You're evil," I gasped, my mind spinning into oblivion. Why was he so…so…gosh darn sexy?! Seriously, if he kept going, my heart was going to burst. And it didn't help he was seducing me while wearing the suit; I was always a sucker for the suit – especially the new one! "You're not being fair," I muttered, unable to stop myself from kissing him.

"Neither are you," he muttered back.

"You won't stop kissing me!"

"You're the one who can't stop."

"Well, you're…supposed to be…the strong one!"

"Not when it comes to you."

I didn't realize that we had gone to a horizontal position until I tried to pull away. My hair fell around my shoulders as I yanked myself up to look into his stormy blue eyes. I knew then that if I asked, Clark would whisk us to my apartment and hold nothing back. The decision was clear: whatever I wanted, he would grant. And I knew in that moment, though I wanted it more than anything, I needed to be the one to end this – if anything, for Clark's sake.

"That was a wonderful preview for tomorrow evening, Smallville. Care to save the best for later?" I sighed regretfully.

He got the hint. Smiling sheepishly, he moved so we were vertical again. "Of course Miss Lane." He kissed my forehead and held me close. I nuzzled my cheek against his chest, listening to his heartbeat. "And you say I'm the strong one," he teased.

I smiled. "Well, when it comes to mistakes, I have to make sure to keep you in line."

"Lois, you're not a mistake. What we did before wasn't a mistake either. It was a decision that resulted in the greatest miracle in both our lives."

I laughed quietly. "Yeah, Jason was the only good thing that came out it, huh?"

"Well, I wouldn't say he was the only good thing."

"Clark!" I cried, surprised.

He gave me that wicked little grin again. "What?"

I rolled my eyes. "Nothing, hero."

A gust of wind picked up, flapping his cape around. Sighing, he muttered, "I guess it's time to take you back."

"Yeah," I replied just as reluctantly. "I need to sleep if you want me to look pretty tomorrow."

"You're gorgeous no matter what, Lois."

Wait 'til you see me in the dress, Smallville, I thought. "Thank you, Kal-El."

Stealing one last kiss, he made sure I was secure before taking off from the globe. One last romantic flight was given and I was euphoric as our relationship once more paraded through my thoughts. We'd been through so much and now we'd finally reached the biggest decision in both of our lives. We were already committed to each other but the action of getting married was kind of the last missing link in our chain. Tomorrow, our relationship would no longer be flirting as boyfriend and girlfriend. It would become open affection between husband and wife. The thought of Clark as my husband made me swoon. I was so wrapped up in the thought that I didn't realize we had touched down on my apartment's fire escape. It was a good thing I'd picked a place that was away from any prying eyes.

"How long have we been standing here?" I asked sheepishly.

He chuckled lightly. "Oh, ten minutes."

I blushed crimson. "And you didn't bother to tell me?!"

"You look adorable when you're reminiscing. I didn't want to interrupt."

"Let me guess," I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Conner and Kara have been watching us through the window this whole time."

"They're in the hallway. They wanted to give us a little more privacy."

"How very considerate of them. They're not listening in?"

He shook his head. "No. And Jason's asleep so we don't have to worry about him."

I smiled. "Good." Sighing, I leaned my forehead against his chest. "I don't think I can sleep tonight," I whispered.

Clark held me close, stroking my hair. "I think you'll sleep just fine, sweetheart."

Another smile. "Flatterer."

A kiss to the forehead came in response.

"You'd better let me go," I warned with displeasure at having to say those words when all I wanted was to remain in his arms.

It was his turn to sigh deeply. "Tomorrow can't come soon enough. I love you, Lois."

"I love you too, Clark."

"Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

888

Clark flew to the arctic shortly after dropping Lois off. His heart was beating a thousand miles a minute as he descended into the Fortress of Solitude. A few rows of chairs had been set up before the control panel. A rich red carpet had been laid out in the middle and red and white rose petals were scattered all over the floor. Red and cream strips of cloth were draped from several pillars of crystals overhead. The wedding was going to take place here and Clark was pleased that his friends hadn't completely humanized the alien structure. This was going to be a Kryptonian ceremony and he wanted it to be as close to the traditions of his home planet as possible.

His mother had been a big help in giving him instruction on what to expect while his father silently watched him the entire time. Clark could tell the AI was not pleased over his marriage but Jor El was willing to allow it because a child was involved. Jason had been Clark's saving grace at having a real relationship with Lois and he thanked all the powers above for his son's birth.

Flying slowly over the carpet so as not to disturb anything, Clark landed in front of the control panel and put in a crystal. The forms of both his mother and father appeared. Lara was smiling at him warmly, her blue eyes bright. Jor-El remained as stony as ever.

"My son," Lara greeted happily, "your union draws nigh."

"It does, mother," Clark said fondly.

"The Fortress looks lovely," she commented, eyeing the décor.

"Why is that section decorated?" Jor-El asked, pointing to a level downstairs.

Clark peeked over the edge and noticed the large space had been set up like a dance floor. A couple tables had been erected probably for refreshments and an arch with red and cream roses was off to the side for what Clark assumed to be pictures.

"It's probably the space we're going to use to socialize after the ceremony, father."

"The décor is rather different," he opined.

Lara rolled her eyes. "Jor, he is marrying a human. This is obviously part of her culture."

"But this is a Kryptonian ceremony!" he argued.

Lara hushed him immediately. "It may be but we have to respect Lois Lane. Kal-El is marrying her race. We need to be courteous. Besides, if you love your son, support him!"

Clark's eyes widened. He'd never heard his mother raise her voice and to his father no less. What was absolutely shocking was the transformation in Jor-El who relented to his wife without further argument. It was clear to Clark that when it came to certain things his mother was definitely in charge. Finding himself smiling, Clark turned to his father. "Are you sure you're comfortable with performing the ceremony?"

Jor-El looked at his son and allowed himself a smile. "It would be my honor, my son. I performed several marriages as a member of the counsel but none will be as honorable to me as my own son's union – even if it is to a human."

"You tried to keep them apart once before and look what happened," Lara admonished. "Stop pouting like a child. Kal is the only Kryptonian left!"

"Not so," Jor-El countered. "Kara was found."

"She is family and therefore a relationship is forbidden."

Jor-El wrinkled his nose. "I apologize. I am merely finding it hard to overlook protocol."

"Protocol died with Krypton!" Lara retorted. "And in my opinion Kal should be able to marry the one he loves. No man is meant to live alone, Jor."

"But Kal-El has a duty –"

"Which he has shown he can perform just fine while in love with this woman," Lara interrupted. "And she is the mother of his child, your first grandchild and a grandson no less! Show the woman the respect, love, and honor she deserves."

"The child was born out of union! That is against protocol!"

Clark had had enough. This was a repeat of the conversation he'd had a week ago. "Protocol no longer pertains here, father," he snapped, shutting up both his parents. "I didn't even know that children were possible for me to have with a human! And I was planning on marrying Lois before Zod tried to take over the world. After ridding the threat he possessed, I was foolish enough to think I had to refuse happiness because of my obligations to protect this planet. But I can't live in a world of passion and be denied it myself! I'm marrying Lois tomorrow and I'm going to raise my son and any other children I may have. And I will protect the world just as I have always done. I want your blessing, father. Please. I have done everything you've asked. Can you not give me the one thing I have ever asked of you?"

Silence reign for several moments while both Clark and Lara waited to hear what the older gentleman would say. Finally, Jor-El sighed. "I will perform the ceremony for you, my son. And I will accept this woman as a member of the House of El. She has made you happy; that much I can tell."

Clark's face softened. "Yes, she has… thank you, father."

"Rest well tonight, Kal," Lara smiled. "We look forward to tomorrow."

888

I woke early. Kara had informed me that Diana was going to whisk me away at seven to some unknown location where the torture would begin of getting ready for the day. Conner had slept over and was going to bring Jason to wherever the wedding was going to be. The only thing I knew was the wedding was to take place at nine. The rest was all a mystery. It was kind of hard not knowing anything but that's what the original bargain was; Clark plans the wedding and I walk down the aisle.

I hopped in the shower and tried to relax under the warm water as it seeped into my hair and ran down my skin. Sighing, I leaned into the downpour, closing my eyes and trying not to think. I managed to make it through the whole process without thought and when I was done, I felt like I was stepping out of a dream. To my surprise, when I came out of the bathroom in nothing but a robe, a hot steaming cup of coffee was on the table along with a note.

All my love for you.

-CK

I smiled. Every day Clark brought me coffee in the morning, usually accompanied with a kiss but not today; it was bad luck to see the bride before the ceremony and besides the others would flay him alive if he tried. Sighing, I whispered grateful thanks before allowing the hot liquid to sooth my senses. I slipped into a cream blouse and red skirt before pulling on a pair of bright red stilettos. My hair still damp in a towel, I went into the kitchen and found the house empty. There was another note on the fridge from my boys.

See you later Mommy! I love you! – Jason

There are bagels in the fridge. See you soon! - Conner

Smiling, I pulled out a bagel and some strawberry crème spread. A few minutes later, I was lounging in the front room having a panic attack. I was getting married today. No longer would I be a single woman. And I was marrying Superman! Was I cut out to be his wife? Could I handle it? What if I couldn't? Would I have to have my memories erased again? Would I have to forget Clark over and over until I got it right? And if so, would I ever be able to? I loved him with everything I had but would that be enough?

I was terrified as I started thinking about how horrible it would be if we had to start over again and again. Neither of us could handle that. Surely Clark would get tired of me. Oh, please, no! I wouldn't be able to live a full life without him! But who would want to be with someone who couldn't even manage supporting a double lifestyle?

I threw my head in my hands. Had I really thought this through? There were going to be many nights where he'd have to leave me to go take care of an emergency; sometimes I might even spend the whole night alone. He'd have to miss out on any extra-curricular activities Jason participated in. Not to mention all of us would be in danger if anyone found out the truth. My heart rate accelerated so fast it hurt.

Rubbing my eyes, an epiphany struck my brain. I suddenly realized I had only been thinking of things from my perspective. How selfish! What about Clark? If I got cold feet now, he'd be broken forever. He would never stop loving me; of that I was absolutely certain. So why was I so worried? We'd obviously been able to stay together through the last few months and if that hadn't been a trial, I didn't know what was. No, I was being silly. I'd already said yes to marry him and I needed to have the faith that we'd make it through no matter what.

That didn't lessen the wedding jitters though.

A knock at the door stumbled me out of my thoughts. Shoving the rest of my bagel into my mouth, I got up, threw the pillow I'd been holding in a death grip aside, and answered the door. Diana and Lana were there, smiling at me.

"Good morning Lois," Lana said cheerfully. "Are you ready to go?"

Swallowing my bagel, I yanked the towel off my damp hair. "As ready as I'll ever be," I muttered nervously.

"Are you alright?" Diana asked.

Feeling sick, I merely nodded. Diana still looked concerned but Lana simply wrapped me in a gentle hug. "It's going to be fine," she muttered, soothingly. "Just relax. Your fairytale is coming true today."

I nearly started crying in her arms. Years ago, on her deathbed, my mother assured me with these words: "One day, Lois, your fairytale will come true. You just have to be patient and when it happens, I promise I'll be there in spirit to see it happen." Lana's words made me feel like my mother was the one with her arms around me. I bit my lip and forced the tears back. Lana pulled away and smiled. I returned the smile tentatively.

Diana took my hand. "Come on," she invited gently. "We don't want to be late."

I glanced at the clock. It was five past seven. Swallowing the frog in my throat, I allowed Lana and Diana to lead me out of the apartment and up several flights of stairs to the roof. "We're taking a jet?" I questioned when seeing the vehicle. "Just where are we going?"

"Somewhere special," Lana said evasively.

Clark had said something similar last night and it turned out to be the Daily Planet. Don't tell me we're getting married on the roof! I held my tongue and was somewhat thankful when we didn't end up heading for the newspaper. Instead we started a course north. No way…. it almost was too much to hope for! But thanks to Diana's jet, we were in the arctic in no time and the giant crystal palace was looming on the horizon. My heart skipped a beat.

I was getting married in the Fortress of Solitude.

888

Clark fidgeted in his room. Bruce had forced him to stay here until it was time for the ceremony. Clark was going stir crazy and it didn't help that he could hear Lois's heartbeat drawing closer. Trying not to run his hands through his hair, he sat down on the bed and sighed.

"Clark, honey, may I come in?"

Clark didn't have to look up to know it was his mother. "Sure," he called, standing up.

Martha came through the door and paused. Smiling widely, she shut the door behind her and gave him a big hug. "You look just as handsome as always when you wear the suit…although today you seem more like the bumbling reporter than Superman."

"Can't help it, Ma," he muttered, hugging her tight. "This is the moment I've always dreamed of but never believed could become reality. I keep thinking I'm going to wake up."

Martha smoothed the folds of his cape on his shoulders. "For years I hoped you'd find someone and now look at you…" her throat closed up as tears filled her eyes.

"Oh, Ma," Clark muttered hugging her tight.

Martha wiped her eyes. "I'm sorry. I'm just so happy!"

Clark smiled. "Me too." A knock on the door interrupted them. "It's Chloe," Clark said, looking through the door.

"I'll get it," Martha said, kissing his cheek. "I'm so proud of you," she added, squeezing him.

"Good morning!" Chloe greeted, coming into the room. "How's the groom, hmmm?"

Clark gave her a nervous smile but tried to seem nonchalant. "Fine."

Chloe rolled her eyes before giving him a hug. "You may fool a lot of people with that Superman voice but I've known you my whole life, Clark. It's okay to be nervous."

"I am not –" but Chloe interrupted him with a look. "Alright, I am. Happy?"

She laughed. "What's to be afraid of, Clark? It's only Lois."

"It's a lot more than that," Clark muttered.

Martha put a hand on his shoulder. "Clark, honey, you can't let your duties as Superman stop you from having happiness. Lois was getting in trouble before you were even a couple and you always saved her in time."

Except for that one time in California…Clark thought.

"Clark, Martha's right. Besides, you're not the only hero saving the world now. I'm positive the Justice League and the Justice Alliance will help you should you ever need them."

"She's right about that one, Clark," someone said in the doorway.

They looked up to find Batman leaning against the door frame. Clark smiled as Chloe whispered, "You knew he was there, didn't you?"

"Lois arrived a few minutes ago," Batman said, explaining the reason for his sudden interruption.

"That's my cue," Chloe sighed. "Come on, Martha, we have a bride to get ready."

The women left and Clark let out another sigh as he sat down on his bed. "Are you sure there's nothing I can do, Bruce? I'm going stir crazy just sitting in here."

"I could give you a pill of kryptonite that would knock you out for a couple of hours."

Clark cringed and stared at him, horrified. "You actually made something like that?"

Batman held up the pill to prove it. "Call it insurance."

Clark rolled his eyes. "You carry around a small chunk of the stuff already. Why do you need a pill?"

"I have my reasons."

Clark sighed. He knew he wasn't going to get a better answer than that. Rubbing the back of his head, he sighed again.

"Clark, relax. Nothing bad is going to happen today. And if anyone is fool enough to do something, the Alliance has volunteered to take care of it."

"But they're just kids."

"Who handled saving the world while we were stuck in the Phantom Zone for several months."

"True… but can you blame me? Every time something good is about to happen in my life, something bad always appears at the worst possible moment."

"Except for today," Bruce assured. "Don't worry about it. Everything's going to be fine. Now, are you going to relax for the next couple of hours or do I really need to knock you out?"

Clark scowled. "That won't be necessary. Besides, I'm surprised any of you guys are coherent this early in the morning. All of you drank half the bar last night."

"We hold our liquor very well," Batman chuckled. "Too bad you can't get drunk, Clark."

He smiled. "I had more fun watching Oliver and Jimmy try to reenact the first time I saved Lois than trying to inhale the entire bar."

Batman chuckled. "We should have parties like that more often."

Clark shook his head. "No thanks. Bachelor parties aren't my favorite thing in the world."

"It would have been if you let us take you to that stripper club," Oliver teased from the doorway.

Clark rolled his eyes, aware of the younger man's approach several minutes before he actually appeared. "Don't you two have anything better to do with your free time?"

Batman and Green Arrow shrugged together. "Billionaires have to keep up a particular profile," Batman muttered.

"This coming from the man who decided to leave that scene behind," Clark jibed.

Batman turned and headed for the door. "Come on, Oliver, we've got some last minute preparations to take care of."

Green Arrow shared a smile with Clark before winking at him and shutting the door. Clark sighed and looked at the clock on the wall. Two hours…would he be able to survive until then?

888

I stood in front of the mirror, my reflection stunning even me. The dress was flawless and everything I could have hoped for. Breathing deeply, I took in the soft flush of my cheeks, the perfect makeup applied by Lana's skilled hand, and the chosen jewelry that sparkled lightly on my skin. A light pink lipstick clung to my lips preventing me from chewing on them out of nerves. I couldn't even wring my hands because they were holding a bouquet of roses. I took another deep breath as Chloe slipped the veil into my hair. I decided to keep most of the dark locks loose with a few pieces pulled up to keep the veil in place.

"You look perfect," she muttered, stepping back.

"Wow," Kara breathed. "Is this how all human women look when they get married?"

Martha chuckled, "Yes and no, sweetheart. Each bride carries her own unique beauty with her."

"Having second thoughts on staying single?" Lana teased.

Kara playfully stuck out her tongue allowing all of us to laugh.

"Is everyone here then?" I asked nervously.

Kara strained her hearing. "Yep. Perry's group just arrived a minute ago. They're taking their seats now."

"Perry's here?" I gasped.

"You wanted him to attend, did you not?" Chloe asked.

"Well, yes, but I didn't think Clark would let him come to the Fortress! Who else is here?"

"The Justice League, the Justice Alliance, Perry, Jimmy, Richard, Ron, Lucy, your father, my husband Pete, and us," Lana replied.

"Jimmy's here?!"

"Clark invited him," Martha said. "Is that okay?"

"Okay?" I smiled. "Jimmy's like the little brother I never had!"

"Then why so shocked?" Lana laughed.

I shook my head. "Clark never let anyone come here before. It was the one place he could get away without anyone knowing exactly where he'd run off to."

"Everyone knows Superman has a fortress in the arctic, Lois," said Chloe. "You wrote the article about it, remember?"

"Well, yeah, but nobody could ever find the location," I mumbled.

"Don't worry, Perry and Jimmy aren't here as paparazzi. They're here because two members of their Daily Planet family are getting married," Martha assured.

I nodded just as the door opened. There was a mad scramble to hide me but it only turned out to be Lucy. "Sorry," she apologized from the killer looks. "Guess I should have knocked, huh?" She paused when her eyes rested on me. "Wow, Lois! You look beautiful!"

I grinned sheepishly. "You think so?"

Lucy nodded. "Duh, it's you isn't it? Here, I brought you something." She walked up and put a hairpin in my hair next to the veil. "Something borrowed," she muttered.

"This is Mom's," I whispered, looking at the pin. It was silver with a swirl of diamonds in the infinity symbol.

"She told me to make sure you wore it when you got married," Lucy revealed with watery eyes. "She wore it at her wedding and I wore it at mine."

I tried not to cry as I hugged my little sister. "It's perfect. Thank you."

"That reminds me," Chloe mused, walking over to a bag and pulling out a thin box. "Something blue!" she cried, holding up a bright blue garter with red and yellow lace.

"A Superman garter?" Lana burst into a fit of laughter. "Where on earth did you even find that?!"

"EBay," Chloe shrugged, smirking as she tossed it at me.

I eyed the thing with slight amusement before slipping it on. "You're going to make Clark laugh so hard he won't be able to get this thing off."

"Maybe he'll linger under the dress while he does," Lucy joked. "He'll get a nice view that way."

"Lucy!" Kara cried, mortified. The young girl's face was brick red.

We all forgot for a moment that Kara still came from a very reserved culture. Martha put an arm around her and whispered reassurances to the stunned girl while the rest of us smirked at Lucy. "Nice going," I said, grinning.

"She'll learn soon enough," Lucy defended with a smile.

"Alright, we have something new, something borrowed, and something blue," Lana muttered.

"That's my cue," said Martha. She pulled out a thin red strip of cloth and wrapped it around my waist, fastening it in the back with a button. Surprisingly the fabric matched the dress perfectly. "That's a piece of the first cape Clark wore when he became Superman," she revealed.

My eyes went wide. "You mean this was part of the cape he wore when he…"

Martha nodded. "Rescued you for the first time."

I flung my arms around Martha. She had no idea what that meant to me. The encounter that started it all…she'd brought a memory into my reality. "Thank you," I whispered into her shoulder. "It's perfect. Thank you so much."

Martha chuckled. "My pleasure, dear."

All the women stood back to admire me, each full of approval and satisfaction.

"We're ready," Kara said out of the blue. Everyone looked at her. "Kal-El just asked how it was coming," she explained to us. "In Kryptonian culture, the man takes his bride to the council to be unified."

"You mean Daddy's not going to walk you down the aisle?" Lucy asked, surprised.

"Not for this wedding," I said. "And before you blow a gasket, Lucy, he's fine with that. He gets to walk me down the aisle in front of everyone two days from now. He's being respectful of Clark's culture and letting it slide."

Lucy looked at me wide-eyed. "And he accepted that without a fight?"

"Yep. I'm just as shocked about it as you are," I admitted. "But I'm glad he's okay with this."

"Kal-El is waiting," Kara reminded, interrupting us. "He'll meet you in the hall, Lois. Wait about a minute before coming out. That should give us enough time to sit down before you walk down the aisle."

My heart leapt to my throat. This was it. All the women made sure to give me a hug before leaving the room. "You'll be fine," Martha whispered. She was the last to leave. I nodded to her as she shut the door. My eyes focused on the clock on the wall watching the second hand slowly move in the circular route it had taken since the dawn of time. When it hit the twelve, my legs shook uncontrollably as I left the room.

My eyes traveled down the hallway until they landed on the hero who'd slipped into my life and snatched me from the sky. He stood tall in his new Superman suit, the famous S shield shining like a beacon around all the blue. His beautiful blue eyes widened and a million dollar smile climbed his perfect cheeks as he took everything in. His red cape swayed a little as he reached forward and took my hand.

We smiled as our eyes met, both of us flushed and filled with butterflies. I could see the nervousness I felt reflected in his eyes as he clasped my hands in his. He leaned forward and kissed my cheek and I breathed in the fresh air and Kansas field scent I had come to love so well that clung to his skin.

"You look beautiful, Lois," he whispered, looking at me lovingly.

I smiled, unable to speak because I was so full of emotion. This was really happening. We were really getting married.

"Are you ready?" he whispered.

I nodded and managed to squeak out a small, "Yes."

He squeezed my hand encouragingly and started walking. I fell into step next to him and we turned the corner. Stepping on a red carpet that led to the crystal consol, my eyes delightedly took in the scene. Red and ivory drapes, flower petals, and ribbons painted the room while our loved ones stood looking at us with smiles. I felt so much love for each person I saw and when my eyes landed on Jason, it took everything I had not to cry. Our little miracle stood by the crystal consol away from the rest of the crowd, dressed in a black tux and a little red bowtie. I briefly looked away from him and found the eyes of my father, who was staring at me tenderly. He was on the front row, next to Lucy and Ron on one side with Martha on the other. My heart went out to him and I could tell from his expression that he loved and supported me wholeheartedly. I smiled.

Then I looked up and saw Lara and Jor-El. My heart froze for a moment. Lara was positively stunning, her long caramel-colored locks cascading around her shoulders in beautiful waves over a deep green gown. Her eyes sparkled and a warm smile greeted me as I caught her attention. Jor-El was just as dignified and proud as I last saw him, wearing his usual black uniform with the white S across his chest. His eyes, however, were softer than I'd ever seen them and it made the man look much younger than he actually was. His stormy gray eyes met mine and instead of the usual disapproval I found a stir of curiosity in the depths of his irises.

Jason broke my gaze from him when he wrapped his arms around my dress. "You look beautiful Mommy!" he cried causing the adults behind us to chuckle.

"You're very handsome yourself, munchkin," I replied in kind, bending down to kiss the top of his head.

Jor-El cleared his throat lightly and Jason leapt away from me as if he'd been burned. "Sorry Grandpa," he muttered.

For the first time since I met the AI, the cold exterior melted and a warm smile reached all the way up to Jor-El's eyes. For a moment I thought I was staring at Clark's twin – minus the hair color. "That's quite alright, Jay-El."

"Jay-El?" I questioned softly, eyeing Clark.

"His Kryptonian name," Clark muttered out of the side of his mouth. "My father gave it to him but I gave consent. I hope you're okay with that."

Before I could reply, Jor-El began. "The witnesses to this union may now be seated," he invited, speaking to our friends and family. My heart leapt. Clark squeezed my hand reassuringly. "We gather here today to witness the joining of two peoples through the Sealing Vow of Krypton. As most of you are strangers to our customs, the Sealing Vow is equivalent to a human proposal and is spoken when a man and woman decide to be joined forever. What must be understood is there are two parts to the vow, the first being when the decision to be bonded is made and the second being before the council of Krypton.

"To Kryptonians, words are power and are uttered with utmost care. Unlike human ceremonies, the bond of matrimony on Krypton is uttered with five simple words. Because this is a special case of the joining of two separate races, we invite Kal-El and his bride, Lois Lane, to exchange a simple declaration of love in the words of their choosing before uttering the vow to the council and these witnesses."

Clark looked just as surprised as I did but he took it in stride, facing me and holding my hands firmly in his. "Lois Lane," he said lovingly, "from the first moment I saw you, you stole my heart. My home world was destroyed and for years I felt lost and alone until I met you. You are my world, my reason for living, and my personal sun. You ground me and complete me. You have given me hope in the form of our son and your acceptance of my differences. I will love you throughout all eternity and give you the utmost confidence that the vow we will share today I will uphold all the days of my life."

He squeezed my hands, indicating it was my turn. Taking a deep breath, and feeling I couldn't articulate as poetically as he, I decided to speak from my heart. "Kal-El, I never thought I'd be standing here today about to marry you. I never wanted to marry anyone until I met you. When you walked into the Daily Planet, I laughed like everyone else because of your goofy glasses and Kansas charm." – The others laughed behind us while Clark allowed himself a small chuckle – "And then as fate would have it, you saved me as Superman and my whole world started to change. I had something at work I never allowed myself to admit I longed for: a best friend. And I had a caped hero who remarkably loved me just as much as I loved him. As the years went by and I figured out who you really were, I found that I loved both sides of you. The happiest moment of my life was when the secrets were gone between us and I could love both men as one in the same. Though I don't know how a perfect man like you could fall for someone as imperfect as me, I'm humbled that you gave your heart to me and no one else. I promise to support you in every role you take and that no matter what may come I want you to know that from now on you will never be alone again. I too will uphold the vow we will make forever because I love every piece of you, Clark Kent, Superman, Kal-El."

I wanted to kiss him then and there but we hadn't said the vow. Jor-El took the floor again. "The words you both have shared are testimony to me of your sincerity and love for one another." He looked right at me and for the first time, smiled in approval. "Welcome to the House of El, Lois Lane. You shall be known now and for generations to come as Lois of the House of Lane, wife of Kal of the House of El."

Lara began to cry.

"By the authority I hold as a member of the council of Krypton, I approve of your union and give you permission to speak the Vow and seal the bond," Jor-El prompted, his voice betraying a hint of emotion.

Clark turned back to me and in perfect Kryptonian declared, "Forever yours and yours alone."

Smiling, tears pouring from my eyes unbidden, I responded in perfect Kryptonian, "Forever yours and yours alone."

Both of us knew the ceremony was over after the vow was shared. In remarkable reverence, I slowly slid my arms around Clark's neck and kissed him as if he were the one made of glass. Faintly I heard the cheers and shouts of congratulations fill the air as Clark pulled me closer to him and kissed me just as reverently and lovingly back. The passion in the kiss was just as intense as the one we'd shared last night on the Daily Planet's roof but somehow so much sweeter.

"You're mine forever," Clark whispered against my lips before kissing me again.

My heart nearly burst as I whispered back, "I always have been."

We pulled away and the first one to congratulate us was Jason. Our son leapt between us, hugging us both. Clark reached down to pick him up. "This means you're officially my Daddy, right?" he asked.

Clark's grin would have put the Joker's to shame. "Yes it does, son."

"Yay!" Jason cried, hugging me too. "Can we move in with him now?"

I laughed and kissed our son in the cheek. "Of course, Jason."

Clark set him down so he could give Martha a hug. "I'm so happy for both of you," she cried, hugging me too. "Never forget this day."

My dad accosted me next, wrapping me in his strong arms. "I love you, Lo."

"I love you too, Daddy," I whispered into his shoulder.

"He'll always make you happy," he muttered in my ear. "I couldn't ask for a better man to take care of my precious girl." I nearly broke down sobbing as he pulled back and kissed my cheek. "I'm proud of you."

"Thanks Daddy."

He stepped aside so Lucy and Ron could hug me next. As sisters, we couldn't say any words. We just embraced and cried into each other's arms. We both got the fairytales we wanted, each marrying our own prince charming. It was a dream come true and our happiness for each other overflowed. Ron muttered heartfelt congratulations as he pulled me into a deep embrace.

Perry came next. "Lane, this event is the story of the century and it's never going to be printed," he pouted lovingly as he squeezed me tight.

I laughed and kissed his cheek. "Love you too, old man."

He cupped my cheek and wiped away my tears. "I'm proud of you, Lois. You and Clark are the children I never had. I love you both and wish you the best in the world."

"Thank you, Perry," I muttered, hugging him again. "You'll always be a father to me. I'm sure Clark feels the same."

Perry nodded and sought a private spot where he could gather his emotions.

Richard came up to me and smiled. Holding my hand, he kissed my cheek. "I'm glad you got the happy ending you always wanted, Lois."

"Richard," I said with thick emotion, "I don't know what to say."

He smiled that warm happy smile I used to love. "There's nothing really to say, sweetheart. We went through a lot and even though I wasn't the one to get you to the altar, I'm glad someone did. I feel bad for Clark; you're going to kill him before any of his enemies do with the way you cook."

I laughed. "Well, it's a good thing he's going to be doing all the cooking then! But if I ever want to kill him, I'll just feed him some of your spicy chicken casserole."

Richard doubled over laughing. "I only ended up in the hospital because I choked, Lois."

"Keep telling yourself that," I smirked.

He shook his head, smiling. "Love you too."

I smiled and again thanked him for everything. He stole another kiss on the cheek before stepping aside and letting others have my attention. The next few minutes were spent hugging and laughing with all our friends until someone suggested we go down to the lower level to really celebrate. Taking my hand, I allowed Clark to guide me with the crowd down to the area that had been set up like a dance floor.

Jimmy had us stand under the arch covered in flowers for a photo while everyone else went to sit down at a few tables that had been erected near the walls. Jimmy made sure to take two pictures, one with me and Clark, the other including Jason in Clark's arms. After lowering the camera, Jimmy gave us a hug each. "I'm glad you two finally saw sense and settled down," he muttered.

I kissed him on the cheek. "Thanks for seeing what everyone else didn't Jimmy."

He turned red but seemed quite pleased with himself. We took our seats at the ones Chloe indicated and then Batman claimed the floor. Even though this was a wedding, he wore his usual black and gray with the smallest accent of a red rose pinned vc over his heart. He didn't look completely sinister but his presence might be mistaken for it by those who didn't know him so well (which explained Ron and Lucy's slight fidgeting).

"Superman asked me to be his best man for this occasion," he growled in his usual Batman voice. "And though I'm humbled I can't imagine why he would pick me when there are so many others better qualified for the position. I first met Superman in Metropolis while pursuing the Joker. We took down both him and Lex Luthor when the two tried to team up to kill him with Kryptonite. That occurrence started an occasional partnership but it also blossomed into a friendship that I actually rather enjoy despite our differences.

"Superman has morals that I admire and respect. He has all the powers and abilities anyone could ever dream of yet he uses them to help other people. Personally I'm grateful for his decision to serve mankind instead of destroy it though I'll always carry kryptonite for insurance should it ever be necessary."

Clark laughed. Seeing that Clark was totally fine with the knowledge that Batman always carried around the one thing that could kill him, the guests seemed to relax and even chuckle a bit themselves.

"I've known Superman for a long time," Batman continued, "Longer than any of the other heroes we have come to associate with, and I can tell you that this man hasn't been happier than he is now. Lois, you've given him more than you might ever know and as a friend, I thank you for that." He raised his glass, indicating for everyone else to do the same. "May you both have long life and happiness," he muttered, toasting us.

"Hear hear!" Green Arrow cried cheerfully as we all raised our glasses.

Chloe's voice rang out from the other side of the room as we set our glasses down. "With the toast out of the way, will the married couple take the floor for the first dance?"

Clark smiled as my face paled slightly. "Don't worry," he muttered softly to me, "I'll make sure you don't trip."

He helped me to my feet and my legs felt like jello as he whisked me onto the dance floor. Somehow the light coming through the crystals dimmed leaving the dance floor illuminated by several streams of white Christmas lights above our heads just as the soft cords of music echoed off the walls. I knew the song well and as the lyrics drifted through the air around us, I thought of everything they conveyed from Clark to me.

Laugh and cry

Live and die

Life is a dream we are dreaming

Day by day

I find my way

Look for the soul and the meaning

Then you look at me and I always see

What I have been searching for

I'm lost as can be

Then you look at me

And I am not lost anymore

People run

Sun to sun

Caught in their lives ever flowing

Once begun

Life goes till it's gone

We have to go where it's going

Then you look at me and I always see

What I have been searching for

I'm lost as can be

Then you look at me

And I am not lost anymore

And you say you see

When you look at me

The reason you love life so

Though lost I have been

I'll find love again

And life just keeps on running

And life just keeps on running

You look at me and life comes from you.

At some point during the song, Clark lifted me onto his toes and began to dance through the air, hovering several feet above the ground. I closed my eyes and leaned into his chest, allowing the lyrics to paint our story through my mind. As the song drew to a close, I looked up into his eyes and brought my face up to his. As we kissed, he slowly revolved until we touched back down on the crystallized floor.

We broke apart and the next song began, ensuing what became a three hour celebration. A few members of the League and the Alliance disappeared a few times to take care of minor cries for help but for the most part the villains of the world kept quiet. I got to dance with every man in the room. One of my favorite dances was with Jason whom I simply held in my arms and revolved back and forth on the dance floor.

"I love you mommy," he whispered into my neck.

I smiled, closed my eyes, and rested my cheek on his head. "I love you too, Jason. You're my little sun and stars."

"And you're my mama moon and skies," he muttered.

I laughed through a fresh wave of tears. We used to say those words to each other all the time before Clark came back into my life. I hadn't said them to Jason since Clark's return and I felt a need for saying them a lot more often. They held special meaning to both of us seeing that we were each other's everything while Clark had been absent. Now he was here and there was no room to mourn or cry. We were finally a family and I was determined that no matter what came our way, we'd make it through.

After five more slow dances with Clark, I could hardly contain my desires to get him alone. Sensing this as well, Clark sought out Chloe and whispered in her ear if we could bring things to a close. Gathering in the troops, Chloe made sure the rest of the celebration passed in under thirty minutes. I tossed the bouquet – which Chloe caught much to Richard's chagrin – and Clark did laugh rather hard when he fetched the Superman garter. Batman somehow ended up catching that one and nobody dared tease him. He shared a significant look with Diana that nobody missed. The Amazon ended up as red as a cherry and the Dark Knight slipped away to find some punch.

Shortly after that the word was quietly passed around and people began making excuses to leave, coming up to give us one last word of congratulations before parting. Soon the only ones left were Conner, Kara, and Jason. Our little family came together in one big hug.

"Congrats again, you two," Conner muttered, stepping back.

"I wish you all the happiness in the word, Kal-El and Lois Lane," said Kara, hugging us both.

"Thank you Kara," I muttered, kissing her head.

"Will I see you soon?" Jason cried, suddenly looking sad. We'd explained to him we were going on vacation for a couple days and he'd get to stay with Grandma Martha in Smallville until the second wedding. Though Jason was excited at the time, he wasn't very happy now.

Clark got down on one knee and hugged our son tightly. "We'll be seeing you before you know it, son."

"Besides, you'll be so busy playing with Shelby you won't even notice the days go by," I added, giving him my own hug.

"I'll miss you," he muttered into my neck.

"Shhh," I soothed, squeezing him tight. "It's only for a couple of days. Promise me you'll have fun?"

"I promise," he muttered.

"Come on tough guy," Conner said, hoisting Jason into his arms.

"Take care of each other," I admonished.

"Will do, mom," Conner said with a smile.

We hugged our little family one more time before Conner and Kara took their leave through the roof's open access, Jason waving and shouting his love for us over Conner's shoulder just before they disappeared out of sight. Clark kept his arms around me until they were gone. Gently twisting me around to face him, he kissed me gently.

"And now that I have you all to myself, what would you like to do Mrs. Kent?" he asked.

I smiled, took his hand, and pulled him towards the stairs that led to the upstairs bedroom where Jason had been conceived so many years ago. Of course, our progress in getting up the stairs was rather slow because we kept kissing and petting each other. After taking ten minutes to only make it half way up, Clark took me in his arms and flew the rest of the way. Laughing, I pushed myself away from him.

"Give me a minute, Smallville," I pled evilly. "I left something in the bathroom." He didn't seem too thrilled about having to wait but we both knew that he could be the most patient man in the world when he needed to be. I reached the door of the bathroom and turned around. "No peeking."

He grinned. "If you say so."

With slightly nervous fingers, I slipped out of my wedding dress, placing it carefully on the hanger Chloe had left in the bathroom in advance. Setting aside the veil and the hairpin, I smoothed my long curls before picking up a bright pink bag she'd also left in here for me. I pulled out the lacy red lingerie I'd been saving for this day, my heart hammering hard against my ribcage. Swallowing hard, I pulled it on. Looking in the mirror, I made sure everything was in order, smoothed my hair again, and shyly opened the door.

Clark's eyes went as wide as saucers. I'd kept on the heels to add to the effect and as I sauntered towards him, I gained confidence. "I figured I'd make things a little different than last time we were here," I said, pleased that the entire time he hadn't taken his eyes off me.

He rose, still in the suit, and gently lifted me off my feet. Placing me on the bed as if I were a china doll, he got down on one knee and removed the heels lovingly from my feet, kissing my legs as he went. Setting the shoes aside, he stood and ran his thumb over my slightly trembling lips.

"You're exquisite," he muttered, looking into my eyes.

I smiled. Rising to my feet, I allowed my hands to climb over his abs up to his chest. Unfastening his cape, it fell to the floor in gentle folds. I managed to get the top half of his uniform off before he began to kiss me so fiercely that I fell backwards onto the bed. My hands tangled into his hair as I wrapped my body around him.

"I love you," he whispered between kisses, "so much."

I closed my eyes and sighed. "I love you too."

We shared a few more passionate kisses while our hands explored each other freely; finally free from the chains we'd had to wear for so long. The night wore on and I finally got to display in every way how I really felt about this man whom I loved more than life itself. An hour later, with the silver sheets draped over us, I kissed my husband gently and whispered, "Forever yours and yours alone."

"Forever yours and yours alone," he repeated, pulling me into the purest and sweetest kiss that conveyed all the love he felt for me. We slipped into oblivion in each other's arms knowing that come what may, we'd always be each other's forever and always, from now until the end of time.

The End

Epilogue:

I once read a saying that I never thought would have any pertinence to me: 'One day someone is going to hug you so tight that all of your broken pieces will stick back together.'

I had finally found that someone. As I watched my wife sleeping peacefully beside me, her dark curls dancing around her, I felt like I was the luckiest man on the planet.

We were in Italy on our honeymoon, having just left our second wedding a few hours ago. The press had made a huge deal about it since Superman himself had attended to show his support. Little had they known it was J'onn in disguise. It was hard not to slip up and laugh when he answered the press sincerely that he was truly happy for us and considered us both to be sincere friends. Of course, he assured everyone that Lois would still be his chronicler (as I had instructed) before flying into the sky 'to answer a cry for help.'

I leaned against my hand as I came back to the present, gazing upon my wife lovingly. Lois Lane, the woman of my dreams, was finally mine and mine alone. I'd dreamt of this moment, longed for it more than anything else, and now it was here as a reality. She had transformed me, repaired the parts I thought would forever be broken, and restored pure joy to my soul.

"Mine forever," I whispered, kissing her shoulder, her neck, and finally her lips.

One of her eyelids opened, displaying her beautiful mesmerizing hazel eyes. Smiling, she muttered, "And don't you forget it, Smallville."

"Yes, Miss Lane," I chuckled richly, holding her tight, feeling happy and content for the first time in six years. Finally, all was –and forever would be – well.

Fin

Thank you all so much for sticking with me through this story. This is the first solo Superman fanfiction I've ever written and it has a very special place in my heart. Please take the time to leave a review to let me know what you think of this story now that it's complete! And for all of you Forever Yours and Yours Alone fans out there, THERE IS A SEQUEL! What can I say, I just can't let this story go! The sequel will be called The Ties of Fate. Look for it at the beginning of the new year! My family is coming into to town and I haven't seen them in over a year so I'm going to be kind of busy but I can assure you the first chapter will be up the first or second week in January because I already have it written. A huge thank you to all my supporters, for the reviews, the favoriting, the following, and the time spent in reading this fic. I'll also be posting up a couple of other stories, one being another Superman fanfiction with my own personal twist, and the second being a combination of the Marvel and DC universe because I wanted a fanfiction where all of them got together. Those will come in the future, for any who are interested. Thanks again and I hope you enjoyed this story as much as I have!

-pumpkinmoose22